Famous small and big towns in Kerala

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Thrikkannamangal

Thrikkannamangal is a suburb around the city of Kottarakara in the Kollam District of Kerala, India. This town is named so because it was the direction that the Kings of old, standing in their palace, would face in the morning. The city of Kottarakara is named so because it served as a place for the kings' "kottaram," or palace. It has people of many faiths and political leanings. There is a strong Hindu presence as well as a strong Christian presence. The Muslim population, though significant, is not as large the Hindu or Christian. Supporters of the Congress and Communist parties dominate politics in the area.

Catalyst for Pentecostal Movement in India

One of the unique points of modern history tied to Thrikkannamangal is that it served as the launching pad for the Pentecostal movement that has now spread throughout India. The American missionary, Robert F. Cook, was received into Kottarakara by the late Kalloor Chacko, one of the patriarchs of the Kalloor family in Kottarakara. Beginning his work in Thrikkannamangal, Cook later moved to Mulakuzha and established the headquarters of the Church of God in India there. The founders of the India Pentecostal Church as well as many other Pentecostal organizations were co-workers with Cook in the early days, before going separate ways for political or doctrinal reasons. The oldest registered Pentecostal church in India is located in Thrikkannamangal.

Thrikkannamangal has its own Kathakali Museum. Kathakali is a dance form that originated in Kerala.

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Pallickal

Pallickal is a village near the town of Kottarakara in the Indian state of Kerala. The majority of the peoples are farmers and Nairs in religion. A village with paddy cultivation, famous for its village outlook, famous Maramadi Maholsavam, Pallickal temple ulsavam, Kadakkulathu Mahadevar temple, Udayan Kavu, and the goodhearted people. The village has a primary school (NSS Karayogam primary school), Mylom Panchayathu Krishi Bhavan, a milk marketing Co-operative society and a Post Office.

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Poovattoor

Poovattoor is a part of Kulakkada Grama Panchayat.It is famous for Poovattoor Bahagavathy temple.The name is derived from Poo attoor(The place where flower fell).Legend says that the goddess of Poovattoor was the sister of goddess of Pattazhi.The younger sister wanted a new place.So the elder gave her a handful of flowers,and told her to reside where the flower is falling.Poovattoor was the place where the flower fell.Poovattoor can be divided into three sub parts.poovattoor west,poovattoor east and poovattoor.MC road is the major road going through this village.Poovattoor NSS higher secondary school is the major educational institution Mahavishnu temple of Poovattoor East and Mahadeva temple of Thachanmukku(Poovattoor west) are other major temples.It also has a number of churches. People of this place is politically very literate.Both left and right wing parties has its roots in Poovattoor.

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Chengamanad

Chengamanad is a census town in Ernakulam district in the state of Kerala, India.It is situated on the banks of the river Periyar. As of 2001 India censusGRIndia, Chengamanad had a population of 29,775. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Chengamanad has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 82% and female literacy of 78%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

According to legends the place derives its name from Jangama Muni who is said to have done penance in a cave in the munikkal Guhalaya. The place was initially called Jangamanad which later became chengamanad. Another account says that the name Chengamand is due to the special kind of soil called Chengal in malayalam.

The Chengamand Mahadeva temple is the centre of attraction in Chengamanad and is one of the important shiva temple in Ernakulam district. The main deity, Shiva is in the form of Kirata Murthi facing East. The shrine of Shree Parvathi and Ganapathi faces west and south respectively. The other center of attraction in Chengamand is the Munikkal temple. It is a small shrine dedicated to Load Subramanyan (son fo Shiva). The temple is situated on a large rock resembling the back of an elephant. The Roman Catholic Church in the Name of St. Antony is another attraction in the place. Holy Fest of the Church is celebrated on the last week of January.

Chengamanad is 10 km from Aluva by road on the Alwaye-Mala road. The nearest railway stations are Aluva( 10 km) and Angamaly (7 km). The nearest airport is Cochin international airport, 3 km from chengamanad.

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Thalavoor


Thalavoor is a village located in the district of Kollam in the Kerala state of India. It is 77 km to the north of the State Capital, Thiruvananthapuram, and 28 km to the east of Kollam... Thalavoor Temple (Ampalam) is located in the heart of Thalavoor, Thalavoor village is also called as "Randaalum Moodu".. Randalum Moodu got the name because of the two "Aalu trees" on both side of the streets...

In earlier times, this land was a part of Elayadathu Swarupam, a principality ruled by a branch of the Travancore Royal Family. Kottarakkara was the capital of Elayadathu Swarupam.

Up to 18th century, this land was a part of "Elayidathu Swaroopam". At that time, most of the leaders (Malayalam: Thalavanmaar) in the Elayidathu Swaroopam were from this place. They headed various departments of this royal dynasty. Hence this place came to known as "Thalavoor", meaning "Thalavanmaarude Ooru" i.e. "The Place of Leaders".

The land of thalavoor is divided into six zones.
Pandithitta (North-West Zone of Thalavoor)
Manjakkala (North-East Zone of Thalavoor)
Nadutheri (Central Zone of Thalavoor)
Njarakkadu (South-East Zone of Thalavoor)
Kura (South-West Zone of Thalavoor
Vadakodu (South-West Zone of Thalavoor)

Thalavoor, like other parts of India, is governed by different levels of government such as the three tiers of 'Panchayatraj', namely Village, Block and Jilla and, of course, the state and central governments. The revenue and land administration has the village as the basic unit


Worship Places in Thalavoor



St George Orthdox Church (Malayil Palli - Close to Ambala Nirappu)
Sri Durga Devi Kshetram,Trikkonnamarcodu
Sree Krishna Kshetram, Nadutheri
Sri Gurisimankavu Dharmashasta Kshetram, Pandithitta
Sree Krishna Swami Kshetram, Kura.
Sree Mahadevan Kshetram, Chunakkara, Millumukku, Kura
Sri Madadeva Kshetram, Saptarshimangalam, Nadutheri
Marthoma Church, Nadutheri
C.S.I. Church, Randalummoodu
Orthodox Church, Randalummoodu
St.Stephen's Orthodox Church, Pandithitta
St.George Orthodox Church,Mylom Kulamudi

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Kottarakara


Kottarakara served as a place of residence for the King. Thus, it is named 'Kottarakara', or "the land of the palace". (Kottaram means Palace and Kara means Land)The 'Elayidath Swaroopam' was the last ruling family of the area. The last queen of the dynasty voluntarily surrendered to King Marthanda Varma of Travancore in the 18th century.

Kottarakkara is a town located in the district of Kollam, formerly known as Quilon, in the Kerala state of India. It is 72 km to the north of the State Capital, Thiruvananthapuram, on the Main Central Road, a State Highway and 25 km to the east of Kollam on the National Highway.

The region is primarily agrarian. It has grown in population as well as economically. There are lots of educational institutions including the 'St. Gregorious College' and the 'IHRD Engineering College'. The place is well-connected, with a good network of roads and frequent bus services to all places. The Kollam - Chennai railway passes through Kottarakara and there is a railway station here.

Kottarakara, like other parts of India, is governed by different levels of government such as the three tiers of 'Panchayatraj', namely Village, Block and Jilla and, of course, the state and central governments. The revenue and land administration has the village as the basic unit. The Kottarakara Taluk consists of a number of villages. The Taluk is part of the Kollam Revenue Sub-Division, which is coterminous with the Kollam District.

The 'State Institute of Rural Development' is at Kottarakara. One of the three Extension Training Centres in the State is also here. Important Government institutions include the Irrigation Chief Engineer's (Kallada) office, Electricity Superintending Engineer's office, Transport Corporation's District office, Taluk Office and Taluk Hospital.

The Kottarakara Assemby seat has been held by the Kerala Congress leader 'R. Balakrishna Pillai' for decades. He holds the record for the highest margin of victory for any candidate to the Kerala Assembly. He has been responsible for most of the developmental activities here. However he lost the elections in May 2006. Other prominent political leaders from the area are 'E. Chandrasekharan Nair' and the late 'D. Damodaran Potti'.

Kottarakara is the place where the classical art form of Kathakali was conceived. It was developed by Kottarakkara Thampuran (the King of Kottarakkara) in competition with Krishnanattom which had its origin in Kozhikode.

Malayalam novelists Lalithambika Antharjanam and Kakkanadan hail from here.

The late Kottarakara Sreedharan Nair was one of India's best actors. His son 'Saikumar' and daughter 'Sobha' are Malayalam film actors. Veteran actor 'Bharat' Murali hails from Odanavattom near Kottarakara. 'Ganesh Kumar', MLA and former Minister, son of' R. Balakrishna Pillai' is also a renowned actor. 'K.P. Kottarakara' was a leading Malayalam film producer in the seventies.

Kottarakkara is a famous pilgrim centre for the Hindus as the seat of the famous Ganapati Temple. It is believed that the idol was sculptured by Perumthachan from the root of the jack tree.This temple is famous for its 'Unniappom'. There are lots of churches in the area, mostly of the 'Malankara Orthodox Church 'and the 'Marthomma Church'. Kottarakara also has a good number of Muslims with their mosque at market junction.

A number of smaller towns/villages surround the main town of Kottarakkara, such as Thrikkannamangal, Perumkulam, Pallickal, Mylom, Kulakada, Melila, Vettikavala, Poovattoor, Puthur, Oommannur, Valakom, Plappally, Panavely, Sadanandapuram, Odanavattom,Chengamanad and Thalavoor.

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Pandalam

Pandalam in Kerala is the chosen and blessed place where Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity of Sabarimala had had His human sojourn as the son of the Raja of Pandalam.

The Pandalam kingdom was established around 79 ME (903 AD) by the Pandalam royal family who are the descendents of the Pandya kings of Madurai. The Pandya royal family had to flee Madurai because of threats to their lives posed by their own ministers. A branch of the fleeing family moved westward, briefly staying at various places it acquired by purchase.

The family kept on the move for over a century, finally reaching Pandalam in 79 ME. This was chosen to be the permanent home for the royal family. The then ruler of Venad (later Travancore) helped to establish the kingdom at Pandalam. According to the Travancore State Manual, the Rajas of Pandalam " were always friendly to the Kings of Travancore.? By the time, all members of the family reached Pandalam and a full-fledged kingdom was established, it was 370 ME (1194AD).

The territories under the Pandalam administration extended to over 1,000 square miles mainly eastward and covered the mountain ranges, consisting of 18 holy hills including Sabarimala. The principality was also known as Airur Swarupam. The Raja also used a title ' Airur Sree Veerasreedhara Kovil Adhikarikal'. The royal family of Pandalam belongs to the 'bhargava gothra' while other Kshatriya families in Kerala belong to 'viswamithra gothra'. Secularism was and is one of the guiding principles of Pandalam family and there was peaceful co-existence of various religious groups. There are many examples of the Pandalam Rajas extending lavish help in constructing churches and mosques in their territory.

When Marthanda Varma, the ruler of Venad established the kingdom of Travancore in 925ME(1749AD), Pandalam was not annexed but allowed to continue independent. This can be due to two reasons:

the cordial relation that existed between the two families even from the time of inception of Pandalam kingdom
To quote from the Travancore State Manual, the co-operation of the Rajas of Pandalam "was of great advantage to Marthanda Varma for the subjection of Kayamkulam.?

After Tippu's invasion of the Malabar coast in 965ME(1789AD), Pandalam was asked to pay an amount Rs. 2,20,001 to the Travancore govt. towards the cost of the war. The amount was to be paid in installments from various sources. Once in 969ME (1794AD), the income from Sabarimala temple was hypothecated by the then ruler of Pandalam for the above purpose. In 995 M.E (1820AD), the then Ruler of Travancore suggested that the Travancore government would support every member of Pandalam royal family and the future progenies thereof in a manner befitting their status for all time to come provided the Raja of Pandalam entered into a written agreement with the Travancore government consenting to have the revenues in Pandalam collected by the officers of the Travancore government.

Upon the Raja of Pandalam accepting the above proposals, the Pandalam kingdom was merged with Travancore. Since then, a monthly pension is being paid to the Pandalam family. Administration of the temples, including Sabarimala within the Pandalam kingdom was also transferred to Travancore government and subsequently to Travancore Devaswom Board.